NEWARK, N.J. – The Neumann University Men's Lacrosse were stopped in a non-conference game on Friday afternoon against Kean University by a final score of 22-7.
 
Kean started off the game, played on the campus of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, rattling off six goals in the first five minutes. With 8:49 left in the first quarter, Luke Sykes notched an unassisted goal, but the Cougars moved ahead with four more goals to lead 10-1 after 15 minutes.
 
Neumann got the first goal of the second quarter, 3:57 into the frame as Cooper Dee picked up his first collegiate goal after an assist from Matt Morris. After Kean scored two minutes later, the Knights struck with 4:50 as Darius Thompson notched a goal. Neumann earned one more goal in the half when Morris scored on a Sykes assist with 1:56 left but the Knights were on the wrong end of a 13-4 score at the half.
 
The Knights were scoreless in the third quarter as the Cougars put up seven goals for a 20-4 edge. At the 8:33 mark of the fourth, Sykes and Bryan Avanzato scored 11 seconds apart to try and chip away at the lead. Thompson scored a third consecutive goal for Neumann, just over three minutes later, but Kean closed out the scoring with two late markers.
 
Owen Avelar was busy in the crease as he made a career-high 26 saves in goal. Sykes finished with two goals and an assist, as well as three ground balls. Thompson had two goals as well with Morris nabbing a goal and an assist. Mike Lago led the Knights with two caused turnovers and Sean Kelly had nine ground balls while winning 12 faceoffs.
 
Neumann (0-2) will return to action on Wednesday afternoon for their home-opener as they host Misericordia University for a 4:00 PM start.